Homicide

Vermont woman accused of killing social worker pleads not guilty to shooting 3 relatives

Associated Press
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Defendant Jody Herring, center, of Barre Town, Vt., is flanked by defense attorneys Kelly Green, left, and David Sleigh at her arraignment in Washington County Criminal Court in Barre, Vt., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Herring entered a not guilty plea on aggravated murder charges in the deaths of her 43-year-old cousin, Regina Herring, her 48-year-old cousin, Rhonda Herring, and her 73-year-old aunt, Julie Falzarano. Herring has already pleaded not guilty at another hearing to the shooting death of social worker Lara Sobel on Aug. 7 outside a state office building. (Stefan Hard/Times Argus via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Defendant Jody Herring, center, of Barre Town, Vt., is flanked by defense attorneys Kelly Green, left, and David Sleigh at her arraignment in Washington County Criminal Court in Barre, Vt., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. Herring entered a not guilty plea on aggravated murder charges in the deaths of her 43-year-old cousin, Regina Herring, her 48-year-old cousin, Rhonda Herring, and her 73-year-old aunt, Julie Falzarano. Herring has already pleaded not guilty at another hearing to the shooting death of social worker Lara Sobel on Aug. 7 outside a state office building. (Stefan Hard/Times Argus via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

A Vermont woman accused of killing a state social worker and three relatives because she was upset about losing custody of her 9-year-old daughter has pleaded not guilty.

Jody Herring entered the plea Tuesday to aggravated murder charges in the deaths of her 43-year-old cousin, Regina Herring, her 48-year-old cousin, Rhonda Herring, and her 73-year-old aunt, Julie Falzarano.

Herring has already pleaded not guilty in the Aug. 7 shooting death of social worker Lara Sobel outside a state office building.

In court documents released last week, police say Herring had a "hit list" before she shot her relatives and Sobel.

A former boyfriend told police that Herring had made comments about how "people are going to pay" and "there's going to be an Armageddon" regarding visitation rights for her daughter.